New Zealand’s South Island is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and Canterbury’s Mount Cook National Park, also known as Aoraki, is one of the island’s most spectacular regions. Located in the centre of the South Island, it is blessed with snow-capped peaks and turquoise lakes which sparkle in the brilliant sunshine as, unlike other well-known national parks on the island, Mount Cook enjoys fabulous weather.
Along with giant glaciers, deep lakes and lush valleys, Aoraki is home to the stunning Southern Alps, which feature 23 peaks over 3,000 metres high. Most famous of all is the mountain for which the park is named, Mount Cook, which is New Zealand’s highest at a vertigo-inducing 3,754 metres above sea level. So challenging is it that Sir Edmund Hillary used it as a training ground in preparation for conquering Everest. It is small wonder then that mountaineers flock to the park, considering it to be the best climbing region in the whole of Australasia. However, you don’t need to be an experienced climber to appreciate the beauty of Mount Cook, as a number of gentle walks lead across the verdant valleys to alpine tarns and meadows.
Hooker Valley - Mount Cook National Park
Many visitors stay in the pretty alpine village of Mount Cook, from where it is possible to explore the highlights, including walks that take you to the Hooker and Tasman glaciers. In winter the more adventurous can join a guided skiing trip on the mighty Tasman, New Zealand’s longest glacier at 27 kilometres. It is also possible to hike to various look-out points, ranging in difficulty from an easy one hour return walk to a grueling but utterly rewarding eight hour return climb to Mueller Hut. For those who prefer to watch than do, and for some of the most spectacular views of the dramatic scenery, an exhilarating scenic flight with a ski plane snow landing is a must. To get up close and personal with the Tasman Glacier, and to explore its deep, murky waters and icebergs, a cruise on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake is also highly recommended.
Tasman Glacier
With its dazzling turquoise waters, created by sunlight hitting suspended particles of glacier rock, and incredibly clear night sky, Lake Tekapo is similarly awe-inspiring. New Zealand’s highest lake offers some of the best stargazing in the world, thanks to its crystal-clear skies and zero light pollution. After a long day, a wonderfully warm soak surrounded by glacial boulders and crisp snow in the lake’s steaming hot springs, is incredibly welcome.
Mount Cook/Aoraki is a park full of superlatives – the tallest mountain, the longest glacier, the highest lake – and it is this vast wilderness and sheer sense of scale that draws visitors like moths to a flame.
Yours truly,
The GO Rentals Guy
